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League Regards Vikings' Communications-System Failure As "Non-Issue"

The NFL is not investigating a failure of the Minnesota Vikings' communications system during their triumph Monday night over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field, a league spokesman said today.

The league considers the episode a technical mishap and a closed matter, the spokesman said.

"It's a non-issue," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's vice president of public relations. "It's not that uncommon. It had nothing to do with the Redskins."

According to Vikings Coach Brad Childress, the wireless communications system linking him to quarterback Brad Johnson failed during the first and third quarters and the team had to send some play calls in by relaying them through players going to the huddle to enter the game as substitutes. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Childress asked Ray Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of football operations, to investigate.

But Aiello said the problem was handled that night. The trouble stemmed from interference on one wireless frequency, Aiello said, and the Vikings switched to a backup system.